James Francis Cagney

James Francis Cagney, Jr. was born on July, 17, 1899 above his father's saloon at the corner of Avenue D and Eighth Street on New York City's lower East Side.   At the time, and for many years thereafter, this section was known as the "gas house district," on the southern border of the notorious "Hell's Kitchen." <Picture: Cagney Aged 10>He was the second of five children born to James Francis Cagney and Carolyn Nelson Cagney.   Mr. Cagney's …showed first 75 words of 1483 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1483 total…civilian award, the Medal of Freedom.   That year Cagney lost his sister Jeanne, and in 1985, his son James Jr., died.   James Cagney died on Easter Sunday, March 30, 1986, at his farm in Stanfordville, New York.  Cagney was one of our greatest actors and greatest stars, a true patriot, and proud of it.   In the last few years of his life, he flew an American flag 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.   A true YANKEE DOODLE DANDY